Your Shot is National Geographic's photo community where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

"This has been a wild and exciting journey—editing some 18,000 images of fantastic photographs of this diverse planet, from the tiniest insects to great mammals to our oceans, weather, and majestic landscapes all across the globe," wrote editing photographer Hockstein.

Lava, Lava, Burning Bright

A lava inferno glows bright in this picture of Hawaii's Halemaumau Crater by Your Shot member Andrew Hara.

"I love the perspective, which draws me into the hot lava center, then, surprise, there's a person at the top right that gives the image perspective, making the volcano look even more awe-inspiring," wrote editing photographer Hockstein.

Winging Buffalo

A water buffalo surges out of the water in Zambia in a picture by Your Shot member Demi Vlachos.

"The sun was at that exquisite point just before it sets, that casts an orange glow over the bush and seems to momentarily freeze time," wrote Vlachos in her caption. "We spotted our first animal: a buffalo ... But, as I took photos, he decided we were too close for comfort and suddenly propelled himself out of the water."

Pod Pals

"It was such an incredible experience to have this wild dolphin pod swim alongside our boat," wrote photographer Karen McDonald in her caption for this picture taken on the way to Bute Island, British Columbia.

"I love the texture of the water," added editing photographer Evelyn Hockstein in an editor's note.

Embrace the Untamed, a Your Shot assignment and story, sought "the wildest animal and nature photos you have," as Hockstein wrote in her introduction. "The images that blow my socks off are the ones that capture the spirit and context of this wild world." Over 18,000 images submitted by Your Shot members were narrowed down to a final story of 32 pictures.

Night Hood

A stream rushes near Oregon's Mount Hood in this picture submitted to Embrace the Untamed by Your Shot member Paul Weeks.

"I looked for landscapes that felt untamed, portraying Mother Nature as the wild, awesome force that dwarfs and awes us with her power and beauty," wrote editing photographer Evelyn Hockstein in her introduction to the final story.

Assignments on Your Shot seek photo submissions from Your Shot members. Editors choose a few of the very best images for final stories published on Your Shot. Photographs submitted to Your Shot are also eligible for our Daily Dozen and may be published in National Geographic magazine.